Japan on track to make Rugby World Cup history: coach

Tokyo: Japan rugby coach Jamie Joseph said on Wednesday that his team were capable of making history by reaching the quarter-finals at next year’s World Cup.

The 2019 tournament hosts blanked Georgia 28-0 last weekend to complete a busy month of home Tests with a second victory after splitting a two-match series with Italy. It was the first time Japan had held a side ranked in the world’s top 12 scoreless, but it was the character shown by the Brave Blossoms in bouncing back from their second-Test loss to Italy that prompted a rare display of bravado from Joseph. “During the Italy Tests, we showed glimpses of our brand of rugby — players executing with confidence and making great decisions,” the former All Black told reporters.